How to Test Electronic Parts
There are some electronic parts that are found in nearly every circuit. These include resistors, capacitors and inductors. Resistors are made from materials such as metals or carbon and are used to limit current in a circuit. Capacitors are made from conductors and are used to store charge. Inductors are made from coils of wire and are used to produce magnetic fields. One common device used to test them is a digital multimeter. There are inexpensive ones that can measure all three.
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Things You'll Need
- Digital multimeter
- Resistor
- Capacitor
- Inductor
- Introductory physics text
- Handbook or data sheets on electrical parts
Instructions
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1
Place the multimeter on the ohmmeter setting to test the resistor. This setting is usually indicated by the Greek letter omega. If you know the value of the resistor, choose the setting that is equal to or higher than it. If you do not know the value, choose the lowest setting.
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2
Measure and record the resistance. Do this by placing a probe on each lead of the resistor. If you do not get a reading, adjust the setting on the multimeter until you do.
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3
Place the multimeter on the capacitor setting. This is usually indicated by the letter F. If you know the value of the capacitor, choose the setting that is equal to or higher than it. If you do not know the value, choose the lowest setting.
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4
Measure and record the capacitance. Do this by inserting each lead into the proper slot. The leads must be long enough to fit firmly. If you do not get a reading, adjust the setting on the multimeter until you do.
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5
Place the multimeter on the inductor setting. This is usually indicated by the letter H. If you know the value of the inductor, choose the setting that is equal to or higher than it. If you do not know the value, choose the lowest setting.
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6
Measure and record the inductance. Do this by inserting each lead into the proper slot. The leads must be long enough to fit firmly. If you do not get a reading, adjust the setting on the multimeter until you do.
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Tips & Warnings
Make sure the capacitor is discharged first before testing.
After you are comfortable testing the components above, you may proceed to learn how to use a multimeter to test more advanced electrical parts such as diodes and transistors.
